september, 2013. forward-looking statement statements made in this presentation stating the...
TRANSCRIPT
September, 2013
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Forward-Looking Statement
Statements made in this presentation stating the Company’s beliefs, intentions, and expectations are forward-looking statements. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected. Additional information is contained in the company’s SEC filings such as our Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs filed at www.sec.gov.
Protalex, Inc.
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Protalex, Inc.
Biotechnology company focused on autoimmune diseases
Market cap: recently $75 mm; 30 mm SOS
Public company (OTC BB: PRTX) Current ownership and management structure established in
November 2009 Niobe Ventures, LLC, has invested $14 mm since 2009 and controls
79% of the equity
Lead product: PRTX-100 Staphylococcal protein A, an immuno-modulatory protein
isolated from cultured bacteria Safe and well-tolerated; three human clinical studies
completed , one in progress with > 32 RA patients dosed. Scalable and optimized GMP manufacture, 4 lots of drug
substance produced over past 5 years Protalex, Inc.
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Investment Highlights
PRTX-100 is a novel immunomodulatory biological drug candidate that may be useful in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases
Proof-of-concept data from ongoing phase 1b trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients expected in early 2014
Potential efficacy in a number of orphan disease indications
Validated manufacturing process; low cost of goods relative to other biologics
Strong and growing IP positionProtalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Background
Highly purified Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA)
42 kDa bacterial membrane protein comprising five homologous 58–61 amino acid immunoglobulin binding domains Binds to Fc region of IgG Binds with high affinity to Fab framework region of Clade VH3 Igs
(most autoantibodies are VH3)
Forms unique complexes with IgG which down-regulate activated B-cells and monocyte/macrophages via FcR antibody receptors.
PRTX-100 binds to B cells with VH3 B-cell receptors
Demonstrated activity in cellular and animal models of disease
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Reduces Footpad Swelling in Murine Collagen Induced Arthritis Model
Paw Thickness
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
28 31 35 38 42 45 49 52 56
Days After Immunization
Thic
knes
s C
hange
(m
m)
Female DBA/1 mice immunized with bovine collagen II, boost with CII on d21
Treat with PRTX-100 (3x/wk 0.01 mg), Etanercept (5x/wk, 100 mg) or vehicle
Histopathological scoring consistent with reduction in swelling
EtanerceptControl
PRTX-100
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Is Not Immunosuppressive Like Anti-TNFs
Anti-TNF biologics can increase susceptibility to systemic infections by fungal pathogens, listeria, and tuberculosis FDA “Black Box” warning
We treated mice with PRTX-100, Etanercept, rabbit anti-mouse TNF, or vehicle and challenged with Listeria monocytogenes or Candida albicans
With both Listeria and Candida, infection severity and mortality was increased by anti-TNF and Etanercept but not by vehicle or PRTX-100
Full data to be presented at 2013 ACR meeting
Protalex, Inc.
-1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90
20
40
60
80
100
Vehicle
Etanercept
PRTX 50
PRTX 250
anti-TNF
STUDY DAY
PE
RC
EN
T S
UR
VIV
AL
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PRTX-1oo Inhibits Platelet Phagocytosis by Human Macrophages in vitro
In ideopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, platelets are opsonized by autoantibodies and phagocytized by macrophages in an FCgR-dependent process
In this model , PRTX-100 down-regulates FCgRI (CD16), a receptor known to have a role in macrophage activation and in phagocytosis. Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Therapeutic Hypothesis and Key Points
PRTX-100 is an immune modulator that acts through mechanisms targeting activated macrophages and certain B-cells; it is not an immunosuppressant like TNF-inhibitors or anti-CD20s
PRTX-100 is derived from fermentation of non-recombinant bacteria; at scale, cost-of-goods will be far less than that of recombinant proteins produced in mammalian cells
Dose is < 1 mg of protein, in contrast to ~ 100-fold higher dose for mAb therapeutics. Allows rapid and safe administration.
PRTX-100 may have applications in many autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and lupus
Protalex, Inc.
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Autoimmune Disease Market Opportunity
RA biologicals current market value exceeds $18 B and is growing
RA market disruptions envisioned PFE’s Xeljanz (tofacitinib) oral drug recently approved Bioequivalents to anti-TNFs and anti-CD20s in development
High value/lower cost modalities may expand current usage and may extend use of biologics from US, EU, and JP markets to global markets
Other autoimmune diseases, e.g., ITP, CIDP, bullous pemphigus, myesthenia gravis represent highly underserved indications with potential for orphan drug designation
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Potential for Orphan Drug Designation
Adult idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) Incidence: 20-30 cases/million per year; patients with
platelet counts > 25,000 are rarely treated, so few require aggressive treatment
Treatments include steroids, splenectomy, thrombopoietin agonists (romiplostin and eltrombopag), high dose IVIG, and off-label, vincristine and rituximab.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) Incidence 10-20 cases/million per year High-dose IVIG is first line treatment, but costs >$8000
per treatment
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100 Clinical Experience
2005 – IND filed for RA
2006 – Phase 1 study completed
2007 – Second Phase 1 using PRTX-100 with improved production/CMC processes
2010-11 – Phase 1b Study (PRTX-100-103) in South Africa; presented at ACR Annual Meeting in November, 2012
November 2012 – Second Phase 1b Study (PRTX-100-104), initiated in US
August 2013 – Completed fourth cohort of PRTX-100-104
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100-103: Study Objectives
Primary Assess safety and tolerability of iv PRTX-100 weekly
x 4 doses
Secondary Assess immunogenicity after ≥3 doses Determine PK and estimate of PRTX-100 plasma
exposure after first and fourth dose Determine whether a relationship exists between
immunogenicity of PRTX-100 and safety and PK Assess effect of PRTX-100 on measures of disease
activity, e.g., DAS28-CRP and CDAI
Protalex, Inc.
Protalex14
PRTX-100-103: Study Design
Week:
0 1 2 3 64 108 12 16
Dosing:
ACR & DAS assessments:
Anti-SPA ABS:
90 days
PK profile:
CBC, CHEM,U/A:
Sequential Cohorts (8 active: 2 Placebo) randomized to receive 0.15, 0.45, 0.9, or 1.5 mg/kg PRTX-100 i.v.
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PRTX-100-103: DAS28 < 3.2
PRTX-100 Placebo05
1015202530
% of patients with DAS28 < 3.2 at 6 and 10 weeks
Day 42Day 70
3/29
6/29
0/8 0/8
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100-103: Summary
PRTX-100 was well tolerated 3 mild to moderate infusion reactions, no SAEs related to
study drug Anti-PRTX-100 antibodies elicited in majority of patients but
neither incidence nor titer was related to dose Patients with antibody response showed increased clearance
without increase in AEs. Antibodies do not appear to preclude treatment response
Relationship between dose and Cmax was linear but clearance and AUC were variable
The higher doses of PRTX-100 resulted in low disease activity, with maximal improvement at 10 weeks after the first dose
Protalex, Inc.
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PRTX-100-104: Overview
New multi-center US study. Phase 1b randomized, multiple-dose, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of PRTX-100 in adults with active RA on MTX
Recent amendment calls for up to 44 patients in four dose-escalating cohorts, starting at 1.50 mg/kg, with fifth cohort to investigate extended dosing schedule
Primary objective: safety and tolerability of PRTX-100 administered by iv injections over five weeks
Secondary objectives include determining effects on measures of disease activity, assessing immunogenicity, evaluating PK, and investigating durability of response
Enrollment commenced November 2012 in the US; last dose of cohorts one through four completed July 2013; expansion cohorts initiated August 2013
Topline data to be announced 1Q14
Protalex, Inc.
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Patents and Intellectual Property
Patents (five issued in US and Japan) Initial US patent 7,211,258, “Protein A compositions
and methods of use” filed 2002 and issued 2007 Issued continuation patents expanding use to various
inflammatory diseases filed 2004, 2006, and 2010; notice of allowance for MS application received 2013
Japanese patent issued with 2023 expiration date Additional filings expected
Other Intellectual Property Considerable know-how in the manufacture and QA of
highly purified SPA expected to remain trade secret
Protalex, Inc.
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Protalex Objectives
2Q13 Safety data from first three cohorts of PRTX-100-104
3Q13 Initiation of cohort 5 extension study, to investigate monthly maintenance doses
4Q13 Filing IND for PRTX-100 in orphan indication
1Q14 Top-line results of PRTX-100-104 trial
2Q14 PRTX-100 global development strategy announcement
Protalex, Inc.
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Protalex Corporate Highlights
PRTX-100 is a novel immunomodulatory biological drug candidate that may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases
PRTX-100 is economical to produce relative to anti-TNFs, anti-IL-6, and CTL4-Ig biologicals; validated manufacturing
PRTX-100 is safe and well-tolerated in humans
Safety and initial proof-of-concept data from an ongoing phase 1b trial in RA patients are expected in 2014
Protalex, Inc.